BBCA Channel
Doctor Who
Newsletter
Princess Diana and Prince Charles, 1981
As Prince William and Kate Middleton draw up the order of service for their own wedding at Westminster Abbey, they have plenty of family examples rich in tradition to study, and no end of ceremonial music to choose from. The first royal wedding to be held in the Abbey was that of King Henry I and Princess Matilda of Scotland, back in 1100. While no order of service appears to have survived from that particular celebration, 20th century royal weddings have been well-documented and we can see the favorite hymns and processional music choices over the years.
On April 26, 1923, the Duke of York and the Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon – later George VI and the Queen Mother, parents of the current Queen – were married at Westminster Abbey. The hymns were “Lead Us, Heavenly Father, Lead Us” and “Praise My Soul, The King of Heaven.” The couple left the church to Mendelssohn‘s “Wedding March” and C.V. Stanford‘s “Marcia Eroica.”
Now a pattern establishes itself. When the Queen, then Princess Elizabeth, married Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten at the Abbey in 1947, the hymns were “Praise My Soul, the King of Heaven” and “The Lord’s My Shepherd.” The couple also left to the strains of “Wedding March.” The day after the wedding, Princess Elizabeth sent her bouquet back to the Abbey to be laid on the grave of the Unknown Warrior, a tradition started by her mother. We’ll have to wait and see if Kate does the same with her bouquet.
Prince William’s parents, Charles and Diana, were not married at Westminster Abbey, but at St Paul’s Cathedral. Diana walked up the aisle to Jeremiah Clarke‘s “Trumpet Voluntary” and she personally chose the hymn “I Vow to Thee, My Country,” which was also sung at her funeral. She and Charles left the church to Sir Edward Elgar‘s “Pomp and Circumstance.”
British composers are often showcased at royal weddings. Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson left the Abbey in 1986 to Elgar’s “Triumphal March from Caractacus” and William Walton‘s “Crown Imperial.” Henry Purcell‘s “Trumpet Tune and Airs” was chosen by Princess Margaret and Anthony Armstrong-Jones when they processed out of the Abbey following their 1960 wedding.
The hymn “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise” featured in the orders of service of both Princess Margaret and her niece Princess Anne. “Lead Us, Heavenly Father, Lead Us” was chosen by both King George VI and Prince Andrew. So a wealth of stirring music with historical resonance awaits William and Kate.
All we can do now is wait to discover which choices the couple makes — and see whether they decide to invoke the memory of any previous royal weddings with their selections.
Laura Trevelyan is a BBC correspondent based in New York.
10 Comments
Wow, I hadn’t realized the songs were different than what I’ve normally heard at a wedding. This is the first royal wedding I’ll be watching, so this is news to me. Can’t wait to see what William and Kate choose! Be interesting to see if they add more songs to the list or relive the historically weddings of the past!
I’ve heard that Kate does plan to leave her bouquet at the memorial, like past royal brides. I think that’s a lovely tradition. I can’t see why she wouldn’t, especially since William is in the RAF. It’s fitting, isn’t it?
Let me assure there are thousands interested in the marriage of Kate and William – so all the people who said we did not care are loco
I sat up and watched the wedding of Price Charles and Princess Diana and barring some unforseen circumstance that prohibts it I will be sitting up watching Prince William and Kate. What Royal Title will she carry? Will she be Princess Kate and once Charles is King (if he is) will William be HRH Prince of Wales and will she then take Diana’s title and be HRH Princess of Wales.
I hope they go after tradition and choose what King George VI choose, or rather they can even go farther back to Edward the VII
Kacey. Some of us really would rather you gave a thought towards stopping the wide-eyed endorsement of this bastion of ‘royal’ self-interest. They represent the markedly flawed system of democracy that we are forced to live under, seemingly one that you find so beguiling, at the most superficial of levels. These unelected, highly-privileged publicly-funded multi-millionaires are a real barrier to equality in this country. They represent themselves, an upper social tier who profit from their existence and are supported by a toadying establishment of worthies. They are socially divisive, emphasizing wealthy, aristocratic, white, upper-class, Christian values. Arguably they are not a fairy tale that Americans can switch on and off at will. Would you retain a system in which an aristocratic elite appointed themselves as unremovable, unaccountable members of the legislation? No I thought not.
The present Westminster abbey church was built in the late twelfth/early thirteenth century. So which royal wedding was first held in the present building? Where was Eleanor of Acquitaine married after she divorced the king of France?
Further question — where did Henry VIII marry all of his wives? ( an inquiring mind wants to know)
This is their big day and I know that both Prince William and Catherine will remember his wonderful mother Princess Diana on that day. They should be able to pick the music that they want for their wedding.
I admire William so very much, he never forgets his precious mother. May God, bless this marriage.
may Kate, have the happiness that was denied to Diana.
Commented Feb 19, 2011 at 21:02:36 in Style
“To: Kate, and William: Diana smiles and approves!
America going to England to see a princess and a king!
In “America” (every-one) is: very, very, completely happilly EXCITED (de verdad)!
There is indeed: “a Princess and a King”
STUNNING BEAUTIFUl!
Welcome to America!
Eustacia Hause